Jean Collen

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Jean Collen

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Born
in Glasgow, Scotland, The United Kingdom
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Influences
Anne Ziegler, Webster Booth, Margaret Drabble, J.B. Priestley, W Somer ...more

Member Since
January 2009

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Jean Collen is a writer, musician and retired teacher of classical singing and piano. She lives in Johannesburg, South Africa with her husband, Errol, a freelance English/Afrikaans translator, writer, proof-reader and editor.

While still in her teens and studying for her singing diploma with famous British duettists, Anne Ziegler (1910-2003) and Webster Booth (1902-1984) she was studio accompanist to Webster Booth when Anne Ziegler had other commitments.

She holds the following qualifications: LTCL (Singing), LTCL (Piano), ATCL (Singing)

BA (SA) majoring in English, History, History of Music (with distinction)

BA (Honours) (SA) in History.

In 2006 she published two books about Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth, one in collaboration with Pamela Da
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Jean Collen There is a mystery in my own life which would make a good plot for a book but I think I'll keep the mystery to myself for the moment! After all, I mig…moreThere is a mystery in my own life which would make a good plot for a book but I think I'll keep the mystery to myself for the moment! After all, I might be able to use it as the basis of a plot in a forthcoming novel so I'd like it to be a complete surprise to my readers.(less)
Jean Collen It is winter in South Africa, but I have three good books to keep me occupied during the cold winter months. At the moment, I am reading Helen Carey's…moreIt is winter in South Africa, but I have three good books to keep me occupied during the cold winter months. At the moment, I am reading Helen Carey's excellent book, "London Calling", the fourth novel in the Lavender Road series. It is over 600 pages in length so it will keep me going for a while. After that, I look forward to reading "South Riding" by Winifred Holtby, published in 1935, a year after her untimely death at the age of 37. The last book on my list is the latest novel by one of my favourite writers, Margaret Drabble - "The Dark Flood Rises".(less)
Average rating: 4.94 · 33 ratings · 7 reviews · 14 distinct works
Do You Remember Anne Ziegle...

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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2006 — 2 editions
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"A Scattered Garland: Glean...

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2008 — 2 editions
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Sweethearts of Song: A Pers...

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2006 — 2 editions
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Faint Harmony (Malcolm Crai...

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I Can't Forget You

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"Webster Booth & Anne Ziegl...

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On Wings of Song: Anne Zieg...

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A Scattered Garland: Gleani...

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A Scattered Garland Gleanin...

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Just the Echo of a Sigh (Ma...

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2011
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FIRST AND SECOND MARRIAGES OF WEBSTER BOOTH.

First and second marriages of Webster Booth. Winifred Dorothy Keey – First wife of Webster Booth, was born in Handsworth in 1901. She was the daughter of Edgar and Alice Keey. Edgar Keey was the headmaster of Aston Commercial School which Webster attended after he left Lincoln when his voice broke at the age of […]
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Published on November 10, 2025 05:48
Crusader's Tomb
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Mansfield Park
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The Mysterious Mr...
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Jean Collen wrote a new blog post

FIRST AND SECOND MARRIAGES OF WEBSTER BOOTH.

First and second marriages of Webster Booth. Winifred Dorothy Keey – First wife of Webster Booth, was born in Handsworth in 1901. She was the daughter Read more of this blog post »
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"This can be read in a number of ways surely. As a novella of the day to day life of Mildred Lathbury full of minutiae or a cutting ironic look at the role of women in postwar Britain. Is Mildred a heroine or a victim? Are the authorial observations s" Read more of this review »
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Friedrich Nietzsche
“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols

William Shakespeare
“If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
That strain again! it had a dying fall:
O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound,
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odour! Enough; no more:
'Tis not so sweet now as it was before.
O spirit of love! how quick and fresh art thou,
That, notwithstanding thy capacity
Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,
Of what validity and pitch soe'er,
But falls into abatement and low price,
Even in a minute: so full of shapes is fancy
That it alone is high fantastical.”
William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

Julian Barnes
“Books say: She did this because. Life says: She did this. Books are where things are explained to you; life is where things aren't. I'm not surprised some people prefer books.”
Julian Barnes, Flaubert's Parrot

“We don't present our voices to the audience, we resonate our souls.”
Thomas Hampson

Ira Gershwin
“S wonderful! 'S marvelous!
That you should care for me!”
Ira Gershwin

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message 14: by Fiona

Fiona Compton I am Jean Collen but I don't seem able to log myself into this page any more. Fiona Compton is my pen name for fiction books. Can someone help?


message 13: by Jean

Jean I have updated my book, "A Scattered Garland: Gleanings from the lives of Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler". The book was published in one volume in 2006 but since then I have found out very much more information about the Booths, so it has now been published in 4 volumes,
Early days (Volume 1) , At the top (Volume 2), South Africa (Volume 3) and Back in the UK (Volume 4). These books may be viewed at: www.lulu.com/duettists


message 12: by Jean

Jean I have digitised the autobiography by Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler, entitled "Duet", published by Stanley Paul in 1951. I am grateful to John Marwood who proofread the book most meticulously.

The book is available by direct link (e-book: http://www.lulu.com/shop/http://www.l...)

(paperback: http://www.lulu.com/shop/jean-collen-...)


message 11: by Jean

Jean I am revising my book "A Scattered Garland" Gleanings from the lives of Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler" and will republish it in two volumes soon. Volume 1: 1902 - 1947 and Volume 2: 1948 - 2003.

After that project is completed, I will continue writing the third (and final) part of my fictional series about tenor, Malcolm Craig. It will be entitled "The Long Day Closes".


message 10: by Jean

Jean I was very sorry to learn of the death of the excellent author, Elizabeth Jane Howard at the age of 90. I have read all her books and enjoyed every one of them.


message 9: by Jean

Jean I have just validated the first draft of my book "Faint Harmony" on NaNoWriMo. It is the second novel in a trilogy about singers, Malcolm Craig and Marina Dunbar. There's still quite a lot of polishing and editing ahead.


message 8: by Jean

Jean I have ordered "Greasepaint and Cordite: How ENSA Entertained the Troops During World War II"
by Andy Merriman and look forward to reading it soon.


message 7: by Jean

Jean Recently I bought "Heartbreak Hotel", the latest book by Deborah Moggach, and I look forward to reading it this weekend.


message 6: by Jean

Jean I have recently updated and enlarged my book, "A Scattered Garland: Gleanings from the Lives of Webster Booth and Anne Ziegler". Support independent publishing: Buy this book on Lulu.


message 5: by Jean

Jean I was very sorry to hear of the death of Maeve Binchy at the age of 72 yesterday. I read every one of her heart-warming books and thoroughly enjoyed them all. I looked out for a new Maeve Binchy last December and was surprised not to find her new novel on the best-sellers' shelf of the bookshop. May she rest in peace.


message 4: by Jean

Jean I have added an extract from my novel, "Just the Echo of a Sigh" to my blog at the following link:

http://jeancollen.wordpress.com/2012/...


message 3: by Jean

Jean I have added the other books I have written and published on Lulu.com to GoodReads today.


message 2: by Jean

Jean I found a slip in my PO Box today to collect a package. It must be "The Letters and Diaries of Kathleen Ferrier"! Today is Youth Day in South Africa, so I shall have to contain my excitement until tomorrow! Letters and Diaries of Kathleen Ferrier by Christopher Fifield


message 1: by Jean

Jean I own nearly the entire collection of Agatha Christie books so it will take me some time to add them to Good Reads. Agatha Christie's books are a very enjoyable and easy read on a cold winter's afternoon.


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